Draft rigging



April 5, 1932. D. BARROWS DRAFT RIGGING Filed Nov. 30, 1925 8 6 2 i/ L w b v w v p 3 i Q J 4 A; 2% E a W.

sirn'rE-sa eer e :oonALn s rnnnows, or noonnsrnninnwrYonKyAssIenoni To'rnnsmmGroNi coivrrz nv, or YORK,'1\I. Y; Aconronnceronor rinnvtnnn DRAFT ,BIGG'ING Application filed -1\Tovember30,i1925; Serial; No:17 2',303.-L

This invention relates to-draftrigging, and,

the-pivotal means-therebetweenbeingslotted 7 more particularly to theconnection between the coupler and yoke allowing for swivel-ling;

motion therebetween.

Theprinclpal ob ect of the--1nvent1on,-gen- QITLllYCOHfidGIBCl B the PIOVJSIOD of anim-v end thereof being shaped for engaging a reproved pivotal connection between: the swivel portion of aswivelbutt coupler and the main portion; thereof as Wellasthe provision of an improved retainingmeans for said pivotal:

means.

An object of the'invention is to-provide a it pivotal v connectionbetween the yoke and clenns:

coupler members of railway draft rigging in which the pivotalmeans, instead of beingcircular in cross section,; is-elongated longitn dinally or formed oblongin cross section preferably being rounded atthe ends and;

- ilh'streting a coupler and-associated yoke ema a i for the ieception oa :key lor connectingisa d coupler to a cooperatingryolreandthe pivotal means being re tained in place by the lower Figure'l is a plan view partlyin section;

.bodying the features of in-yinvention'.

flattened at the sides thereof for securing;

greater effectiveness in the connection between the coupler and'yoke.

Another object of my V1nvent1on is the pro- Figure 2 is a longitudin alverti'c-al: substantially central view of the constructionillus-- trated in Figure I I Figure 3 is a vertical sectional viewof'the yoke onthe line 3-T-3"of FigureQJ vision-of a swivelbuttcoupler formedwith a swivel block pivotally connected with the: butt portion of the coupler by means of an: upright pin, said pivotpin being form-edwith its top portion flush with the-top oftlie-cou-' pier and with itso lower portion'extending below saidcoupler proper and provided with -.retaining ineansfor said pinwhereby. saidcharacters;-and first'considering the construction illustrated in'Fi'gures 1 to 3, -inclusive,=' 1

coupler-butt and swivel block are adaptedefor snugly fitting between the: forwardly eXtendi-. ing'arms of a cooperating;yoke, the portions of theyol-Ie adjacentthe lowenendof the-pin Figure d is a fragmentary sectional-viewillustrating an alternative: retaining means 1 forthe-pivot pin;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view illustratinga modified form of pivot pin retaining means. i 7

Referring; to the 'drawingsr -in-detai1 -likeparts 'beingdesignated by like reference there is-"illustrated" aswivel-butt coupler 1 connected to a. yoke 2 which,-in the embodibeing downwardlyoffsetfor receiving the butt are pivotally connected by means of apivot pin preferably flattened along-the sides thereof, said pin 'beingretained in place-by;

a shouldered portion thereon engaged-bye 'otally connected thereto. by means ofan up Z right pin 5,-sothat the :partsinove longitudiflange or extension from the adjacent portion of. the coupler for preventing: rd'ownward movement thereof.

A still further object of my invention is.-

theprovision of a coupler, to the buttzp'ortion "OfWhlCll is pivoted-a swivelblock-member;

. between coo eratin draft or center'sills not merit illustrated, is-of the verti'caltype bymeans/of a substantially horizontal draft I key Saiddrey 3 'servesto hold the coupler and-"yoke in-alinement asfwell as'connectthe same and is supported,- in the usual manner,

shown); I The swivel butt coupler 1 preferably comprises a. butt ormain coupler portion l and an a uxiliary or swivel block portion 5v pivto serve as the vfront follower-thereof being formed for engagement with cushioning mechanism, illustrated diagrammatically by dot dash lines in Figure 2. The swivel block 5, in the present embodiment, is operatively connected to the yoke 2 for the transmission of draft forces therebetween by the key 3. For convenience I will designate the auxiliary member 5 as a swivel block, because it is swivelled with .respect to the main coupler portion land it may be considered as forming a two-part or articulated coupler stem. If desired,however, the swivel block,

may be considered as a front follower member of the yoke as it is connected thereto by means of the key 3 and suitable for engagement with associated cushioning mechanism.

The'yoke, in the present instance, is shown as of the vertical type with upper and lower forwardly extending arms 7 and 8, respec tively. Said arms are preferably connected by integral web or wall portions 9 and 10 extending on either side of the coupler butt and forming a hooded front end for said yoke. The key member 3 preferably passes through slots 11 and 12 in the wall portions of said yoke. The slots 11 and 12 are formed of such a size that the key 3 contacts therewith for the transmission of draft forces between the coupler and yoke but they allow thekey to move rearwardly upon the application of buffing forces so that said forces are transmitted from the rear face of the swivel block directly to the cushioning mechanism before mentioned;

In the present embodiment, the coupler 1, and more especially the butt portion 4 thereof, is provided with rearwardly extending substantially or normally horizontal web or flange portions 13 and 14, said portions being curved along the rear faces or edges thereof coaxially with respect .to the pivot pin 6. The swivel block 5 likewise is provided with forwardly extending normally horizontal web or flangeportions 15, 16 and 17 which overlap, closely interengage or are intercalated with respect to, the web or flange portions 13and 1 1 ofthe coupler and form pockets 18 and 19 therebetween for operatively engaging the curved edges of the flanges or webs '13 and 14, respectively, of the coupler. These pockets 18 and 19 are preferably formed with bearing surfaces coaxial with the pivotal member6 forproper pivotal en- 'a einent with the portions 13 and 14- of the coupler. V

The flanges l5 and 17 on the swivel block are provided with edge portions coaxial with the pivot pin,-said portions cooperating, respectively, with correspondingly curved flanges 20 and 21 on the coupler. The central or intermediate flange 16 on the swivel block is intersected by a way or slot for the key 3 and is. likewise formed with c'oaxially curved edges 22 and 23 for cooperation with the correspondingly curved pocket portions :24 and 25, respectively, on the main coupler portion. That portion of the swivel block rearwardly of the pivot pin 6 may be cored out, as indicated at 26, to'decrease the weight thereof.

Although certain advantages of my invention may be secured by employing a pivot pin 6 circular in cross section, yet said pin is preferably formed flattened along the sides f thereof providing a cross sectionwith greater longitudinal than transverse dimensions. That is, the horizontal section of the pin, as shown most clearly in Figure 1, is formed substantially cylindrical, or circular in sec tion, at its front and rear with straight sides connecting said circular portions. This construction is preferable in that a more eiiicient pin is thereby formed. Some of the advantages of a pin form-ed as disclosed are that with an oblongsection a greater area of the pin with a given width between the loops of the yoke may be employed thereby construction of the parts of the articulated coupler. Another advantage resides in the provlslon of a more-effective bearing area' between the pin and the engaging flanges'or webs on the main coupler portion and'swivel.

block. It will be appreciated that a greater proportion of the forces are transmitted by the surface of the pin adjacent the frontand rear thereof and that the surface thereof on the sides is of relatively little use for the purpose. Althoughv the apertures through the engaging flanges on the main coupler portion and swivel block are formed to cor respond with the sizeof the pin, yet, as illus trated most clearly in Figure .2, SliClllGrtures along the sides of both or of one of them, preferably the coupler, are desirably formed slightly angular with respect to the sides of the pin, as indicated at 27,110 provide the desired clearance for permitting angling betweenthe main coupler portion and the swivel block.

The pivot pin 6 is intersected or cut partly in half by a slot for the key 3. Although the engagement of said key in said slot in the pivot pin 6 tends to prevent removal of said pin whenthe key is in place, yet this construction is not primarily relied upon for the purpose. The slot in the pin is so'large that considerable motion is permitted between it and the key thereby obviating break llll age of the pin to somesextent, Thenermal;

means for preventing loss or undesired ,ree moval of the pivot pin compr sea shouldered positioned to therear of said pin and extending forwardly into,,engagement with the same atthe shouldered-portion or notch 2S5 therein. The lower surface of the shelf portion 29 isfpreferably flush with the extreme,

lower end ofthe pint. v In order to allow. for the reception of the: shelf or web portion 29extendingfrom the,

swivel block 5 and the cooperating endof the pivotpindand yetprovidefor the close ttingof the coupler buttdn the front end of yoke, the lower web or arm 8- of said yoke is downwardly offset,as indicated at 30,from

the normal elevation of the portion 8-to, provide for receiving the lower end of the pin 6 and the retaining portion 29 of the swivel block. The side edges of theportion 30, how? ever, preferably slope upwardly to the normal level of the arm 80f the yoke to thereby, closely engagethe side portions of the swivel block. Not only are the coupler butt and swivel block closely engaged at top and bottom by the associated yoke but the sides thereof are also. closely, embraced between the walls orwebs9 and 10 of said yoke, sulficient clearance only being provided for al-, lowing the desired angling between the members. I

Referring particularly to Figure 4:, an alternative retaining or securing meanslfor a pivot pin 6% preferably formed generally, as heretofore described, is disclosed. In said modification, the lower wveb or flange, l7 of the swivelblock 5 ispreferably formed with depending lug portions 31 provided with registering apertures 32 therethrough and the lower end of the pivot pin 6 depending below the flange 17f is likewise formed with a corresponding aperture;therethrough, The pin 6, after insertion inplace, is then retained in position and prevented from un desired loss or removal, eitherupwardly or downwardly, as Well as turning thereof, by means of a cotter or 'similarlocking means 33. Except as specifically described, the rest of the construction mavbe identical with that disclosed in connection with Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

Referring specifically to Figuret'), a further modification of the pivot pin retaining means is illustrated. In said modification, the pivot pin 6 is formed with a shouldered portion 34 andva tongue 35 split away from said shouldered portion. The foregoing retaining means may be formed by cutt-ingior milling away asegmentof the lower portion of the pin to form the shouldered portion 3a. The, swivel block and coupler butt, asheretofore with the exception of thelower flange orweb 17*? of the. swivel; block, are formed, with ceivmgsaidpim Theloy'velifiange 17? is;

preferably formed with afpartially round;and

any, other,desired;manner, preferably lel with the vloasefof the segmental ,po'rtion out ,out to form thefshoulder may, be bent, toflthe diagonal position illustrated where it: willengage theadjacent portion of the flange:

azisfi .t mev p ur sui e er re:-

17 of,the swivel blockandpreyentundesired removal for motion ofthe pivot pin. After assembly ofthe coupler and vswivel-block by;

insertion' and locking in place of jthe pivot,

pin 6 the members maybe inserted between V the armscof the yoke, as in the modification illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, except that thelower arm 8 of ,saidyoke, need-not be ofl set downwardly, as illustratedgah 30, because in Figure. 5 the lower end of-the pin 6*, need not extend-below the; lower surface of the cooperating flange 17?. Except as spe; cifically described, the constructionfmay be identicahwith that disclosed in connection with Fignreslto 3, inclusive.

Referring to-the drawingsin general it will be apparent that when theime-mbersare assembled, the forwardly ext-ending arms 7; and 8 of the. yoke will embrace the pivot therebetween and the swivelportion of. the coupler, generally, the forwardly extending portions, of the webs 9 and 10 servingto limit swiveling motion between the coupler and yoke. Although the forwardly extending arms 7 and 8 of the yoke wouldnormally tend to prevent undesired removal orloss of the pin as well as the arrangement of said pin with respect to the key 3,, yet the several retaining means illustratedznot only prevent loss or undesiredremoval of the pin after assembly, but allow substantially no motion between said pin and-associated members and make it possible to assemblethecoup ler and swivel block without relying upon the cooperation of the key or yoke and without increasing, or, only increasing to a slightdegree, the overall height of the coupler butt and swivelblock. Although inthe present embodiment, the retainingjmeansfor the up: right pivot pin or key are 'provided at the lower end of saidpin to the rear or inner, side thereof or extend through said pin between therea-rand front: thereof, yet I W i;3l1 o be est c y i ac ordancei h the, lip ed lpl ima Ib s otipreferredtetoltla not ' with a stem composed of a plurality of parts pivotallyconnected by means of an upright" retainin means such as shown in Figure 5, on the ront or outer side of the pivot pin, because the greatest stress between the swivel block and pivot pin occurs along the outer or front surface of said pin, so that it is not advisable to decrease the bearing area at such a place.

Having now I claim is: i

1. In a draft rigging, in combination with a yoke, a coupler, said coupler being formed I described my invention, what pin intersecting said parts, the top of said" pin being substantially flush with the top of the coupler stem and the bottom of said.

pin extending below the bottom of said coupler stem and supported by a flange extend,- ing'from said stem, the upper and lower cooperating portions of the yokeextending forwardly beyond said pin and closely embracing the coupler stem, the lower portion of the yoke being downwardly oflset adjacent said pin for receiving the lower end thereof.

2. A yoke comprising forwardly extend. ing arms connected at the forward ends by a a hooded portion slotted for the reception of a draft key, one of said arms adjacent the forward end thereof being ofisetfrom and kept parallelto the longitudinal center line for receiving an extension from a cooperating coupler.

3. In railway draft rigging, in combina-' tion with a yoke having top and bottom portions, a coupler stem comprising relatively movable parts, means for connecting said yoke and stem, and pivot means for connecting the parts of the stem extending below the lower face of said stem, said stem being closely embraced at top and bottom by the.

cooperating portions of the yoke, said portions extending above and below the pivot means and the lower portion formed to pro vide clearance for the lower end of said pivot means. 7

4. In railway draft rigging, in combination with a vertical hooded yoke, a coupler stem extending into the hooded portion of said yoke, said stem comprising relatively movable parts respectively formed with normally horizontal apertured flanges arranged in overlapping relation, a normally upright pin passing through the apertures in said flanges for pivotally connecting said parts of the coupler stem, said pin terminating within the yoke and being provided with front and rear faces curved cylindrically about a common axis and laterally spaced flattened faces extending parallel to said axis, said apertures being correspondingly formed and providing clearance for permitting limited angling between, said parts of the stem, whereby the apertured flanges are given wider marginal dimensions and the strengthof the coupler increased, and key means extending trans versely of sald pin for connecting said 0011- pler to the yoke.

'5. In railway longitudinally movable with respect to said yoke, one of the parts of said coupler comprising a stem and the' other a swivel block, an upright pivot pin extending through apertures in said stem and swivel block for connecting said parts, said pin and apertures being decreased in dimensions transversely of said coupler, as compared with their dimensions longitudinally of the coupler, whereby the marginal dimension of the coupler laterally of the pin is increased to improve the strength of the coupler for the transmission of service forces,.and means for connecting said coupler and yoke. 6. A' coupler comprising a stem and an associated swivel block, said stem and swivel block being formed with intercalated flanges, said flanges being apertured, and a normally upright pin passing therethro'ugh, said stem, vswivel block and pin being formed with a slot for receiving a horizontal draft key, said pin being generally cylindrical 'on its front and rear surfaces with its sides flattened to a width less than its longitudinal dimension, the apertures in said flanges being correspondingly formed and providing clearance for permitting limited angling between the stem and swivel block, whereby the flanges are given increased transverse marginal dimensions and the key-engaging wall of said slot is given a wider marginal dimension to in 7 draft rigging, in combination witha verticalyoke,ga two-part coupler crease thestrength of the coupler for the transmission of service forces.

7. In railway draft rigging, in combination with yoke having top. and bottom POI.

tions, a coupler stem comprising relatively movable parts, means for connecting said yoke and stem, pivot means for connecting the parts of the stem extending below the lower face of said stem, and means extending from one of the parts of said stem below the lower face thereof for holding said pivot means in place, said stem being closely em-V braced at top and bottom by the cooperating 7 portions of the yoke, said portions extending above and below the pivot means and the ing said pin in place, said stem being closely embraced at top and bottom by the coopmeans and said holding means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DONALD S. BARROVVS. 

